TVR Awards

Despite their massive and persistent popularity, many TV-watchers still dismiss reality talent shows as boring, formulaic and silly. But it's impossible to deny that the likes of 'American Idol,' 'So You Think You Can Dance,' and 'The Sing-Off' exposed us to an incredible array of unique (and at times bizarre) talent in 2010. Many of our favorite reality talent show contestants this year weren't the ones who ended up winning; it was often the zaniest, most original acts that left the biggest impressions. We've narrowed our favorite runner-ups and also-rans down to the five most memorable. Which one of these almost-winners impressed you the most?

Betty White has had a prolific career spanning nearly six decades, but even for her, 2010 was a busy year. The 88-year-old actress and comedienne enjoyed a renaissance that seemed to officially cement her role as America's sassy grandma. Betty hosted 'Saturday Night Live,' guest-starred on 'Community,' got her own show ('Hot in Cleveland') and made a bevy of appearances on late-night and daytime talk shows. We've chosen these highlights from arguably her best year ever. Check out our favorite Betty White clips and vote for your favorite moment.

We all know the real reason entertainers appear on television's plethora of talk shows: to plug their new films, shows, books and albums. So it's always refreshing when stars break outside the usual confines of the standard interview and give us something different -- whether it's a wacky anecdote, a bizarre ensemble or a shamelessly humiliating performance. Check out our collection of oddball celebrity appearances from the past year, which features all sorts of bizarre hilarity from Christoper Walken, Steve Carell, Nicholas Cage and others, and be sure to vote for your favorite moment in our poll below.

There was no more captivating story to unfold on TV this year than the shakeup at 'The Tonight Show.' When NBC got impatient with new host Conan O'Brien after only seven months on the job and began experimenting with ways to re-install Jay Leno in his old gig, it sparked a controversy that quickly engulfed the entire TV scene. Comedians and rival hosts from across the dial dove right into the real-life drama, cracking jokes, taking sides, and reacting to new developments nightly. It was a good old-fashioned late-night war, and it inspired a lot of excellent comedy. Who got in the funniest jabs? Check out our video collection and vote for your favorite jokes in the poll below.

For the past few weeks, we've been celebrating the most outrageous and silly TV clips of the year with the TV Replay Awards. Now we've arrived at the most absurd category yet, as we salute the year that was in 'Maury' ridiculousness. Povich has pioneered crass, ridiculously entertaining television since his days on 'A Current Affair' in the 80s; his current show is a shameless 'Jerry Springer' knockoff featuring arguing couples, paternity tests, and generally the worst human nature has to offer, every day of the week. These are our choices for the Most Ridiculous 'Maury' Moments of 2010. Watch the videos, vote on your favorite, and then shower thoroughly.

Reality TV -- with all its challenges, critiques, eliminations and votes -- is bound to create friction between judges and contestants. And after looking back at the year that was, it's clear that Simon Cowell wasn't the only snippy judge in the land of reality-TV competitions. We've found several other examples of testy critics, and their victims aren't always quietly stoic, either. Check out our video playlist of berating judges and cocky competitors. Which judge or contestant do you think was the most out-of-line?

Everybody loves watching a talented kid perform, it's basically a fact of Internet life. The popularity of TV talent shows combined with the growing prevalence of YouTube celebrities introduced a new wave of young, brilliant performers this year. We drew from a variety of shows for The Most Talented Kid of 2010 category, including 'So You Think You Can Dance', 'America's Got Talent', 'Toddlers & Tiaras', and 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show'. These kids are the real deal, singing, rapping, dancing, and playing piano. Which one do you think is the most talented? Watch the videos and vote below in our poll.

Oh, the ladies of the 'Real Housewives' franchise. They're equal parts obnoxious and engrossing, riveting and ridiculous. Though we're somewhat embarrassed to admit it, their spats and melodrama have turned into one of our guiltiest reality TV pleasures. So while it was tough to narrow down, we've culled together seven of the biggest meltdowns, blame-games and smack-downs of the year from across the various 'Housewives' incarnations. They're all excessive and outrageous, but which was the most eggregious and out-of-line? Watch the videos and vote below in our poll.

Take a tour through the past year of TV and relive some of the best moments the medium had to offer in our 10 Most Viewed Videos of the Year. We'd all do well to study these fan favorites and commit them to long-term memory. After all, someday our grandchildren might ask where we were when Terry Bradshaw sprang from a cake, when Helen Mirren showed up in a red bikini or when Joy Behar and Whoopi Goldberg walked off their own set. Okay, maybe not. But it's nice to dream.

By 2011, 79-year-old Regis Philbin will have been a fixture in entertainment for 50 years. In all that time, he hasn't lost a bit of his wit and charm. But much like one of your favorite grandparents, he's grown adorably out of touch with the Internet and younger generation of celebrities. While Regis may not always succeed in being hip, it's really fun to watch him try. Check out some of Philbin's most endearing generation gap moments on 'Live With Regis and Kelly' and help us pick his best "old man" moment of the year.

Certainly, no one would begrudge Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb an occasional libation now and then. Except, they seem to drink all the time while on the air. It's indeed never too early in the morning for the hosts of the fourth hour of 'Today.' In that spirit, we present five examples of our favorite imbibers in the Best Segment Featuring Conspicuous Alcohol Consumption During the Fourth Hour of 'Today.' Cheers!

While we've been fans of weatherman Dave Price for years, we can't help but suspect his goofy antics contributed to his recent ouster from 'The Early Show.' Sure, the network says he, Harry Smith and Maggie Rodriguez were fired as part of a retooling to boost ratings. But we're not so sure. Review the evidence as Price licks, flubs and fumbles his way out of a job in The Best Examples of Why Dave Price is No Longer Employed. And yet, despite all this, we'd welcome Price back in a second. We salute any weatherman who can consistently make us this uncomfortable.

Knock-down, drag-out fights on 'The View' weren't just limited to political rivals Joy Behar and Elisabeth Hasselbeck this year. No, no. The ladies of 'The View' were also quite comfortable arguing with their guests. Squabbles between Behar and Hasselbeck do figure prominently among our nominees for 'The View's' Best Arguments of 2010. But, there were also memorable altercations involving firebrand Bill O'Reilly and comedian Kathy Griffin. Watch and enjoy, since, after all, nothing's more entertaining than watching these ladies engage in a round of verbal fisticuffs. Which argument will emerge victorious as the most entertaining of the year? You be the judge.

As long as there's live TV, there will be Live Air Gaffes. Even in the tightly controlled, over-produced world of modern television, verbal miscues, fits of uncontrollable laughter, and brainfreezes are bound to happen from time to time. And we wouldn't want it any other way -- those rare, unvarnished moments of awkwardness are part of the reason we love live TV. Here are our five nominees for the Live Air Gaffe of 2010. Watch the videos in the playlist and vote below for your favorite!